xp laptop. What can i do to find out if it's a program that locks it up? I try ctrl alt del when it's frozen,but nothing happens.I have to hold down the power button for about 5 seconds then it turns off.
Laptop freezes after sitting a good while.....
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Boot from a live linux CD and run it for a while to determine hardware or OS.
Can you share how it was being used prior to it freezing (example was it being used, just idle, idle with a screensaver running, in standby)
You can also view the logs after you reboot using Event Viewer. Go to Start / Run and type
eventvwr.msc
Click OK
Also, can you identify any changes prior to this (antivirus updates,etc)
You can also view the logs after you reboot using Event Viewer. Go to Start / Run and type
eventvwr.msc
Click OK
Also, can you identify any changes prior to this (antivirus updates,etc)
Can you tell if it is overheating?
Also make sure you have the latest drivers for all your hardware. I recently updated the BIOS of my ancient laptop and it boots up and surfs the web much faster.
File hippo and the website of the manufacturer of your laptop is what I've been up to.
Also check out Ccleaner. I find it does a good job cleaning up junk on your hard drive and eliminating the poo ware that comes with a computer these days.
File hippo and the website of the manufacturer of your laptop is what I've been up to.
Also check out Ccleaner. I find it does a good job cleaning up junk on your hard drive and eliminating the poo ware that comes with a computer these days.
i've used cleaner tempcleaner,filehippo update checker,laptop is a hp ze4100.I only use it every few weeks,so i don't need to get a new one.
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
speccy
but usually an overheat will shut it off totally, not just freeze it. you need someone who understands computers to view the event logs and see what is causing it to freeze. It could also be a corrupted video driver or it could be bad memory. Really hard to tell without hands on the computer...
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
speccy
but usually an overheat will shut it off totally, not just freeze it. you need someone who understands computers to view the event logs and see what is causing it to freeze. It could also be a corrupted video driver or it could be bad memory. Really hard to tell without hands on the computer...
Triple_Se7en
$50 Site Donor 2024
Originally Posted By: bubbajoe_2112
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
speccy
but usually an overheat will shut it off totally, not just freeze it. you need someone who understands computers to view the event logs and see what is causing it to freeze. It could also be a corrupted video driver or it could be bad memory. Really hard to tell without hands on the computer...
...... or it could be a boatload of items checked in your Startup folder of System Configuration Utilities.
..... and/or it could be a boatload of various program updates "enabled' in your Scheduled Tasks folder.
.... and/or it could be a bunch of unnecessary applications running.
.... and/or it could be subpar internet speed/provider.
.... and/or it could be overloaded in your Add-on/Extension folders
etc........etc.......etc.
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
speccy
but usually an overheat will shut it off totally, not just freeze it. you need someone who understands computers to view the event logs and see what is causing it to freeze. It could also be a corrupted video driver or it could be bad memory. Really hard to tell without hands on the computer...
...... or it could be a boatload of items checked in your Startup folder of System Configuration Utilities.
..... and/or it could be a boatload of various program updates "enabled' in your Scheduled Tasks folder.
.... and/or it could be a bunch of unnecessary applications running.
.... and/or it could be subpar internet speed/provider.
.... and/or it could be overloaded in your Add-on/Extension folders
etc........etc.......etc.
Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted By: bubbajoe_2112
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
speccy
but usually an overheat will shut it off totally, not just freeze it. you need someone who understands computers to view the event logs and see what is causing it to freeze. It could also be a corrupted video driver or it could be bad memory. Really hard to tell without hands on the computer...
...... or it could be a boatload of items checked in your Startup folder of System Configuration Utilities.
..... and/or it could be a boatload of various program updates "enabled' in your Scheduled Tasks folder.
.... and/or it could be a bunch of unnecessary applications running.
.... and/or it could be subpar internet speed/provider.
.... and/or it could be overloaded in your Add-on/Extension folders
etc........etc.......etc.
I've unchecked all the unnecessary applications,startups,etc. I d/l'ed speccy and i don't see any temp for cpu.
Originally Posted By: bubbajoe_2112
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
speccy
but usually an overheat will shut it off totally, not just freeze it. you need someone who understands computers to view the event logs and see what is causing it to freeze. It could also be a corrupted video driver or it could be bad memory. Really hard to tell without hands on the computer...
...... or it could be a boatload of items checked in your Startup folder of System Configuration Utilities.
..... and/or it could be a boatload of various program updates "enabled' in your Scheduled Tasks folder.
.... and/or it could be a bunch of unnecessary applications running.
.... and/or it could be subpar internet speed/provider.
.... and/or it could be overloaded in your Add-on/Extension folders
etc........etc.......etc.
I've unchecked all the unnecessary applications,startups,etc. I d/l'ed speccy and i don't see any temp for cpu.
You mention its an XP laptop. How much memory? that vintage may be 512, a gig or 2 more of ram will help with the freezes. Also if you search "Cooling Pads" on Amazon that may be an option. Some laptops are not fun to open up to replace the fan or probe.
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted By: bubbajoe_2112
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
speccy
but usually an overheat will shut it off totally, not just freeze it. you need someone who understands computers to view the event logs and see what is causing it to freeze. It could also be a corrupted video driver or it could be bad memory. Really hard to tell without hands on the computer...
...... or it could be a boatload of items checked in your Startup folder of System Configuration Utilities.
..... and/or it could be a boatload of various program updates "enabled' in your Scheduled Tasks folder.
.... and/or it could be a bunch of unnecessary applications running.
.... and/or it could be subpar internet speed/provider.
.... and/or it could be overloaded in your Add-on/Extension folders
etc........etc.......etc.
I've unchecked all the unnecessary applications,startups,etc. I d/l'ed speccy and i don't see any temp for cpu.
Here's a trick for temp. Install "defraggler", a defrag option made by the same folks that make ccleaner. They have a temp check for the hard drive, a good indication of temps inside the case.
Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted By: bubbajoe_2112
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
whats a basic no frills cpu temp gauge?
speccy
but usually an overheat will shut it off totally, not just freeze it. you need someone who understands computers to view the event logs and see what is causing it to freeze. It could also be a corrupted video driver or it could be bad memory. Really hard to tell without hands on the computer...
...... or it could be a boatload of items checked in your Startup folder of System Configuration Utilities.
..... and/or it could be a boatload of various program updates "enabled' in your Scheduled Tasks folder.
.... and/or it could be a bunch of unnecessary applications running.
.... and/or it could be subpar internet speed/provider.
.... and/or it could be overloaded in your Add-on/Extension folders
etc........etc.......etc.
I've unchecked all the unnecessary applications,startups,etc. I d/l'ed speccy and i don't see any temp for cpu.
Here's a trick for temp. Install "defraggler", a defrag option made by the same folks that make ccleaner. They have a temp check for the hard drive, a good indication of temps inside the case.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
You mention its an XP laptop. How much memory? that vintage may be 512, a gig or 2 more of ram will help with the freezes. Also if you search "Cooling Pads" on Amazon that may be an option. Some laptops are not fun to open up to replace the fan or probe.
No it won't. If it is freezing solid (you can't move the mouse) no increase in RAM is going to fix the issue. It is either a driver or hardware problem.
You mention its an XP laptop. How much memory? that vintage may be 512, a gig or 2 more of ram will help with the freezes. Also if you search "Cooling Pads" on Amazon that may be an option. Some laptops are not fun to open up to replace the fan or probe.
No it won't. If it is freezing solid (you can't move the mouse) no increase in RAM is going to fix the issue. It is either a driver or hardware problem.
I get calls all the time where people claim the old boxes are frozen. They were out of ram, disk gone wild caching/paging. Its happened so many times its the first thing I ask now. 512 is not enough for modern apps, browsers, etc. standby problems. it goes on and on. All the caching/paging/disk access makes the old laptops run hot also.
Last edited:
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I get calls all the time where people claim the old boxes are frozen. They were out of ram, disk gone wild caching/paging. Its happened so many times its the first thing I ask now. 512 is not enough for modern apps, browsers, etc. standby problems. it goes on and on. All the caching/paging/disk access makes the old laptops run hot also.
But low memory alone won't cause a hard lock. Soft lock? yes! But in those situations you can still move the mouse. Nothing may respond, sure, but the lock isn't hardware related. That's the point I was making.
I always make it a point to differentiate between a hard and soft lock.
If somebody is having a soft lock due to excessive paging/low memory, yes, addition more RAM will help.
On the other hand, if somebody is having a hard lock because they've got a whack video driver, no amount of added RAM is going to help.
Hope that makes it clearer as to the point I was making
I get calls all the time where people claim the old boxes are frozen. They were out of ram, disk gone wild caching/paging. Its happened so many times its the first thing I ask now. 512 is not enough for modern apps, browsers, etc. standby problems. it goes on and on. All the caching/paging/disk access makes the old laptops run hot also.
But low memory alone won't cause a hard lock. Soft lock? yes! But in those situations you can still move the mouse. Nothing may respond, sure, but the lock isn't hardware related. That's the point I was making.
I always make it a point to differentiate between a hard and soft lock.
If somebody is having a soft lock due to excessive paging/low memory, yes, addition more RAM will help.
On the other hand, if somebody is having a hard lock because they've got a whack video driver, no amount of added RAM is going to help.
Hope that makes it clearer as to the point I was making
Yes, agree with that. Not being there, only the OP knows which one. If his disk access light is going crazy when it freezes/locks, thats a clue.
Check eBay. Systems coming off lease are sold or stripped of parts. If you can wait, you will see good deals over the course of a week.
I do have 1gb of ram. What i noticed yesterday that the metal cover over the ram was pretty warm.I shut it down quickly ,took the cover off and the ram was hotter than the cover.Also,the cpu fan is on high for long periods of time.
Usually laptops have self test you can run before booting into Windows (BIOS based or at the boot loader level). Try to run those and see if there is any hardware problem. Then in windows also check for the SMART value of the hard drive and see if it is dying (PassMark has a free software call DiskCheckup).
I've seen these on my desktop before, and most of the time it was bad power supply, bad ram, bad hard drive, bad CPU, bad fan, etc.
I've seen these on my desktop before, and most of the time it was bad power supply, bad ram, bad hard drive, bad CPU, bad fan, etc.
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